Celebration Time

31 Aug Celebration Time

On August 31, 2011 I turned over a new leaf 🙂

I gave up buying Ready-to-Wear clothing for one year and vowed to make my clothes instead.

Today I’m celebrating because I not only set out to do what I intended, but I completed an experience that brought me great pleasure and satisfaction. I must have needed a challenge!

I was spending huge amounts of money on clothes and was constantly shopping. I bought way too many clothes that looked alike, and had entirely too many clothes that were barely worn.

One day I snapped, gave up shopping, began sewing my clothes and started a blog… What a day.

WHAT A YEAR!

 I often read about how one must give up one thing to gain something else, and I think that was certainly the case for me this year.

I gave up the constant search for something to wear and acquired a collection of clothes I love. 

Perhaps I had suppressed my fondness for ruffles, bold prints, and bright colors over the years because it came out in full force. 

When I gave up the time I devoted to shopping, I became creative again and improved my sewing skills too.

I started and ended the year making a skirt with many more in between.

Eventually I realized skirts can be made from just about any type of fabric as well as easily re-styled. This discovery led me to explore the refashion scene. 

I believe my sentimental favorite is the tunic I made with my grandmother’s +100-year-old sheet.

Inspiration came easily for it was everywhere.

Ultimately the past year was broader than just a challenge or sewing experience. It evolved into a journey of personal discovery and led to friendships across the globe. I gave up buying Ready-to-Wear and gained much, much more than the 64 garments hanging in the tree.

I had fun too!

 

I began my year of sewing with quilting cotton and ended with this beautiful Oscar de la Renta silk brocade from Mood Fabrics. Now  t h a t ‘ s  progress!

I couldn’t pass up one more peplum or a skirt once I saw this beautiful shade of  pink silk dupioni!

Top Butterick 5615  –  Skirt McCalls 3830

Now that I’m finished with my year-long challenge, it’s time to celebrate and I’m headed to the Mediterranean with my childhood friends! When my friends contacted us in March, we quickly accepted the invitation because I had already saved so much money from sewing rather than spending it on clothes.

Thank you all so very much for supporting my efforts this past year!  Many of your sewing projects and blogs have been incredibly inspirational to me.  The kind comments and helpful tips you have generously posted mean more to me than you can possibly imagine.

NOW……  what’s that quote by Norman Vincent Peale?

“It’s always too soon to quit!” 

B O N   V O Y A G  E

and I’ll see you in late September!!